Vegetable Oil Spray Coating for Material Handling Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for lining material handling surfaces, such as truck beds and excavator buckets, are costly, messy, and environmentally harmful, requiring lengthy application times and generating waste that contributes to landfills, with some jurisdictions restricting the use of plastic and straw liners.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for spraying vegetable oils exempt from hazardous material listings, such as sunflower or canola oil, onto material handling surfaces to prevent material adhesion, using a platform-mounted spray equipment with a hydraulic pump and spray wand, allowing for efficient and environmentally friendly coating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If plastic liners and straw beds are used to line material handling surfaces, then material adhesion is prevented, but application time increases and environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of material adhesionVSAvoidapplication time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical application methods (laying down plastic liners and straw beds) with a spray coating system that applies oil-based anti-adhesion coating. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual handling and positioning of traditional lining materials while achieving the same prevention of material adhesion through a rapid spray application process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and application method of the anti-adhesion material from solid/semi-solid forms (plastic liners, straw) to a liquid oil-based coating that is sprayed onto the surface. This parameter change enables faster application and eliminates the need for lengthy manual positioning and securing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If plastic liners are used to line material handling surfaces, then material adhesion is prevented, but environmental harm increases and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of material adhesionVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a biodegradable oil-based coating that can be easily applied and removed, replacing persistent plastic liners that remain in landfills for centuries. The oil-based coating is designed to break down naturally in the environment, eliminating long-term pollution issues while maintaining effective anti-adhesion properties during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of oil (which could be considered a pollutant) into a beneficial anti-adhesion coating by using food-grade vegetable oils that are biodegradable and environmentally benign. The oil serves its protective function and then naturally decomposes, transforming a potential harm into a beneficial, eco-friendly solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If straw beds are used to line material handling surfaces, then material adhesion is prevented, but application time increases and environmental harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of material adhesionVSAvoidapplication speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of laying down and securing straw beds with an automated spray coating system. This substitution dramatically increases application speed by eliminating the need for manual handling, positioning, and securing of straw materials, while achieving the same anti-adhesion effect through rapid oil-based coating application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The vegetable oil coating method is faster, less messy, and environmentally friendly, reducing downtime and waste, while being compliant with regulatory initiatives by using non-hazardous materials that do not contribute to landfill issues.

Implementation Method 1

spray equipment comprising a container for containing the oil, a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pump: Pump

Implementation Method 2

spray wand and hose assembly fluidly coupled to the pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpray coating: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentUS9199267B2Apparatus and method for spray coating a material handling surface

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 BANDURA BERNICE

AI summary

An apparatus for spraying an oil, such as an MSDS exempt vegetable oil, onto a material handling surface to impede material from adhering to the surface. The apparatus comprises a platform comprising an elevated section configured to support a human operator, and spray equipment comprising a container for containing the oil, a hydraulic pump fluidly coupled to the container, and a spray wand and hose fluidly coupled to the pump. The spray equipment is mounted on the platform and configured to enable an operator to operate the spray wand from the elevated section of the platform.